GIVE AND TAKE...the Franklin Monroe Jets and the Bethel Bees battled back and forth until the Jets pulled away for the CCC title.

Story by Dale Barger
The showdown on this night was a stalemate for the first 15 minutes until Ethan Nealeigh was able to drive one by the goalie at 24:38 in the period to get on the board 1-0. Lane Lucas would then add a goal off a rebound at 16:46 to go up 2-0.

The Bees somewhat frustrated at this point needed a boost. Coach Hamlin asserted to Senior Drew Stephenson while running the sideline it was time to make something happen. As he has done all year long Drew took the ball the length determined to do just that as he place a perfect ball just inside the net away from Goalie Noah Welbaum at 15:22 to put Bethel on the board now trailing just 2-1.

Franklin Monroe would put a dagger in the Bees as they scored 2 goals in the last 4 minutes of the half both from sophomore Landon Bundenthal one at 4:27 on a 3rd chance shot and the other off a header from a corner kick with just 21 second in the half to give the Jets momentum and a 4-1 lead.

Early in the second half the Jets got a score from Bret Robison with a long kick over the outstretched hand of the goal keep. Minutes later Bill Taylor would get a goal putting the game basically out of reach for the Bees. Up 6-1 with 34 minutes to play Franklin Monroe was able to keep the pressure on Bethel who was never really able to mount a challenge to get back in the contest.

For the Bethel seniors who still remembered two years ago in the CCC Championship game where they missed the pk and then lost it all in the last minute of play… it wouldn’t be the way they wanted to go out as they were unable to exact revenge. But they will be able to remember helping Coach Hamlin reach a milestone and with a bit of good luck can still make a strong statement in post-season play.

Coach Diceanu summed up the game this way, “I was a bit surprised with the way they were able to run with us...I did not think that they would be able to handle our speed as good as they did.   Their keeper made some real nice saves and we are glad to come away with the win and another Cross County Conference Championship.” However, “I think they have a good team and they will be a team beat over the next couple of years with all the talent they have coming up.

For the tournament the Jets are the number one seed for the first time in school history and plays the winner of TVS vs. Dixie on October 20th at 6pm at Franklin Monroe.

Let’s all give our support to Franklin Monroe and Bethel and hope for a good post season.